Recap: LA Angels vs. Oakland

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Jason Vargas tossed a shutout and Howie Kendrick homered as the LA Angels of Anaheim blanked the Oakland Athletics, 3-0, in the middle installment of a three-game set.

Vargas (9-7) allowed just four runs while striking out five for his second shutout of the season. The Angels have won 10 of their last 14 games overall.

"We made some defensive plays behind me," said Vargas. "I was able to control counts, which made my changeup more effective. Tonight was a good one."

Kendrick smoked his 13th home run of the season for LA while J.B. Shuck offered two hits and Josh Hamilton drove in a pair.

A.J. Griffin (14-10) struck out seven over five frames, but surrendered all three runs on five hits as Oakland's winning streak comes to a halt at five games.

With one away in the home half of the first, Kendrick hit a no-doubter to center field on an 0-1 Griffin offering.

The Angels put two more across in the third inning. Tommy Field and Shuck singled and Mike Trout walked to load the bases for Hamilton, who blooped a single in front of Chris Young in left field to plate two.

Vargas set the side down 1-2-3 in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings and faced the minimum in the second and seventh frames after yielding a single and then inducing a double-play.

"Jason pitched well," admitted A's manager Bob Melvin. "He used his changeup effectively. We always have a feeling we're going to have a big inning but we couldn't do it today."

Daric Barton walked to put a runner on in the ninth, but Vargas got Josh Donaldson to ground into a fielder's choice two end the contest.

"Jason's changeup was exceptional," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "He had a good angle on his fastball, and good fastball command. He knows what he's doing."

Game Notes

Donaldson's streak of reaching base in 28 straight games came to an end ...
Jed Lowrie had two of Oakland's four hits ... The A's had won 11 of 13 ...
Oakland is a game behind the Red Sox for best record in the majors.